( OPEN ) the problem with history

[tomemyoutliers]

who: senator shockwave & YOU (and also a guest appearance by optimus prime)

where: his lab. also the forum at night.
when: sometime. probably.
what: shockwave does things he shouldn’t.
warnings: nope!



i.

Shockwave is most often found in his lab, various remains of half started projects with the minimal resources they have available scattered around the area. His most precious and pressing project is the holographic map of the city and surrounding area - as far as he’d managed to get out of the city before being pulled back by some unknown compulsion. If he cannot map the entire planet, then he’ll make what he does know as detailed as possible; there’s notes about soil composition and guesses as to what the ruins were, if they’re too far destroyed to tell from looking. It remains constantly on, the projection spinning in the middle of his lab for lack of anywhere else to put it.

His other main project, however, is something he’s not willing to share. It’s a half formed idea, born of a failed project he had so much hope in a million or so years ago. But he only works on it in spurts, grabbing a seemingly random datapad out of the stacks he’s managed to accumulate to jot down a few notes before moving on with other work.

Most days find him in a good mood as well, and today is no different, although he is looking very intently at a datapad, occasionally looking up at what appear to be cans of various colors of paint. A literal vanity project, if you will. But he’s more than happy to be disturbed by whoever or whatever comes to his door.

ii. closed to optimus prime

"Meet me at the forum tonight. Around eight. - Shockwave"

He’d thought it was a clear enough message to Optimus that needed no followup. Optimus would come, as he always did when Shockwave requested his presence. Although here it was different - there was no need to plot to overthrow the government, and the lack of one both amused and bothered him. Everyone seemed to know their place, worked in the organization they were familiar with. Military procedure, defaulting to the chain of command.

As a civilian, Shockwave found little comfort in that, even if Optimus was heading the faction Shockwave would have joined when pressed. But at the same time there was a sliver of realization that his work could be his own, as it was back on Cybertron, with no need for him to answer to anyone if anyone questioned him. Regardless, the focus here was not his relief in the freedom to do as he pleased, but meeting Optimus. Valeria’s conversation still stuck in his head: Whatever's involved in initiating a romantic relationship for your species, you should do it to Optimus. Simple enough, and something Shockwave certainly didn’t have any objections to, the question was Optimus, as it always was.

But he wasn’t going to find out if the other bot returned at least his physical attraction - if not emotional - by sitting around in his lab. So inviting the other for a simple nighttime stroll it is - now he simply had to wait for the other to show.

Shockwave had waited for Optimus any number of times in his life, what was one more?

Comments

[justskidding]

Shockwave would indeed be disturbed today, but not at his door. There's the sound of something large bumping around the air ventilation. Not too loudly of course - Skids isn't a shoddy vent crawler, but a little noise manages to escape that one could pick up if they were looking for it. A few moments later, the metal grille of a vent is unscrewed from the inside and wiggled out of place. Red hands grip it carefully and set it against the inside wall of the vent.

Skids sticks his head down briefly, taking a brief 360 degree overview of the lab. It was filled with little projects, but devoid of the one making them. Odd.

A less curious Autobot may just turn right around and keep going. Who knows what evil science lies in this lab? Skids is a rapscallion of the ninth degree, however, and lands onto the floor without making a sound. The door was slightly ajar - so he's assuming whoever was in here would be back shortly.

He goes for the datapads, tilting his head as he turns one over to look at the notes.

[tomemyoutliers]

Shortly indeed, as Shockwave's finishing up his conversation with Brainstorm - the other has a few good ideas, and many more that would be troubling to anyone with a moral code. He'll have to keep one eye on him when he can, but something makes him think Nautica is far more likely to voice a complaint.

So when he finds someone in his lab, standing over his datapads, Shockwave's first instinct is anger. But then it registers who it is, and anger fades into amusement and joy.

"I'm beginning to regret teaching you how to apply what you've learned, Skids."

But god, is he happy to see you.

[justskidding]

Skids wasn't a paragraph into the datapad's contents before he hears heavy footsteps begin to signal someone approaching closer and closer.

As the door opens, Skids finds himself not quite believing his eyes. It was almost as unbelievable as showing up an alternate dimension of Cybertron and Brainstorm concocting a time travel machine.

"Shockwave?" the datapad actually clatters onto the table. He was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. He approaches with a critical eye, examining the Senator before reaching out to lightly tap his arm - as if to double check that he were real.

"It really is you - that would explain why you'd keep so many copies of 'Cyclical Fluctuations in Subterranean Energon Deposits'," he says the lengthy header with the most genuinely puzzled robot airquotes he can muster. Humor is surely the right response to this, right?

[tomemyoutliers]

Shockwave lets him - he's used to the uncertain response thanks to both Optimus and Trailbreaker's reactions. But a smile spreads over his face when Skids speaks. He's always had a soft spot for him, and doesn't waste time gathering him up in a hug once it seems the reality has settled in.

Sorry Skids.

"It's good to see you." Yep, just going to hold him up in the air for a bit. "You never know when you're going to lose a copy."

That doesn't happen often to him, but hey. Always be prepared.

[justskidding]

Holy shit Shockwave that's quite the crushing attempt you're calling a hug!!! Skids squirms before managing to free his other arm to squeeze onto Shockwave's shoulders with.

Yet, all the emotion, the familiarity of being with his old mentor leaves him speechless save for a grunt of surprise. He was back - somehow, tangible and everything.

He only finds words come to his mouth after his feet find solid ground again.

"Ok, we're almost officially caught up on our hug quota," he remarks, rubbing his lower back before his expression brightens,"You know what? I feel like we need to have this reunion somewhere than isn't a dark lab - no offense," he jabs a finger,"I'll follow you."